Nor, despite a first-half display that was arguably his best 45 minutes of the season, was it Fernando Torres.

Even when he impresses, they don’t really want to know.

But
Cesar Azpilicueta, or “Dave” as the Chelsea supporters call him – apparently because none of them can pronounce his name properly – did enhance his growing reputation.

A
constant foraging menace, whose flank delivery was too much for Roberto
Martinez’s men, Azpilicueta also created Eden Hazard’s second before his own shot was parried to Marko Marin to put the icing on the cakewalk.

Azpilicueta,
who made his Spain debut against Uruguay in midweek, admitted Chelsea needed a positive after their fortnight of toil.

When
Shaun Maloney got Wigan back into the game straight from the restart after Hazard’s goal – Ramires, finishing a sweeping move, had put Chelsea in front – fear began to sweep round the ground.

In
truth, that was only allayed when Frank Lampard got the trademark goal to take him within four of Roy Bentley’s club record – cue another chorus of “Sign him up” to a board who have made the first steps towards
doing exactly that – before Marin sealed the deal with his first Blues’
strike.

Even
so, the return of David Luiz gave poise to the midfield, allowing Ramires to play in the advanced role to which he is far more suited.

Victory
was required too, after Spurs briefly nudged ahead of the Blues, who can drag Manchester City into the fight for the minor places at the Etihad in a ­fortnight.

Benitez added: “We had to improve on the mistakes we’ve been making, ­particularly stopping counter-attacks. We did that.”